Former lifeguard Mark Bridger is "probably responsible" for the
death of five-year-old April Jones who went missing from the town of
Machynlleth in Wales, his barrister told Mold Crown Court today.

The 46-year-old of Mount Pleasant farmhouse in the village of Ceinws, near Machynlleth, pleaded not guilty to charges of abduction, murder and perverting the course of justice, but his barrister, Brendan Kelly said his client was "probably responsible" for her death.

April was last seen playing out on her bicycle on Machynlleth's Bryn-y-Gog estate, where she lived, on the evening of October 1 last year.

Mr Bridger, who lived close by was arrested the following day, but April's body has never been found and the search continues.

He was subsequently charged with abducting and murdering April, and of unlawfully disposing of and concealing her body with intent to pervert the course of justice.

But Mr Kelly told the court his client's defence involved him "conceding that he probably killed the child".

The judge, Mr Justice Griffith-Williams said: "That matter can be reported. You have indicated that the defendant's case is that he was probably responsible for the death of April."

April's parents, Coral and Paul, were in court for the proceedings.

Mrs Jones, wearing a black cardigan, pink T-shirt and black trousers, and Mr Jones, wearing a salmon pink shirt, sat to the side of the dock, just 10ft away from Mr Bridger.

The defendant, with short cropped hair and goatee beard, was then brought in and confirmed his name to the court.

Both parents stared at Mr Bridger as the charges were read to him.

Mr Bridger stood, his arms behind his back, and looked forward as he entered not guilty pleas to abducting and murdering April and a further charge of perverting the course of public justice.

At one point Mr Bridger, wearing a navy blue jumper with a pair of spectacles tucked into his collar, appeared to be making an effort to compose himself as he entered his pleas and looked up towards the ceiling as he entered his final not guilty plea.

The case sparked an outpouring of support for April's parents, with hundreds of people joining the search for their daughter and offering assistance.

Dyfed-Powys Police resumed the search to find April Jones January, following a two-week break for the Christmas period.

Currently there are 16 search teams involved in the operation, the force said.

Bridger, of Mount Pleasant farmhouse in the village of Ceinws, near Machynlleth, north Wales, was arrested the following day, but the search for April's body goes on.

The case provoked an outpouring of support for April's parents, with hundreds of people joining the search for their daughter and offering assistance.

Late last month, her mother made an emotional appeal for her daughter to return home, as residents in their home town pledged to continue searching for the schoolgirl.

Coral Jones, 40, said she "hadn't stopped crying" today in a poignant message posted on Facebook message to mark three months since the five year-old's disappearance.

"I can't stop crying today, I've been doing some house work and I've come across some of April things and pictures," she wrote. "I love you so much April, please if you are that person out there who knows please come forward."

Mrs Jones also shared a Christmas picture of the missing schoolgirl smiling happily in front of presents. The start of the New Year brought a pledge for searchers to do everything to carry on the hunt.